An empirical study on the correlation of self-efficacy and autonomous learningability of undergraduate nursing students and its influencing factors

Abstract: Background: It is the focus of current nursing education to improve the independent learningability of nursing students and the post competence of registered nurses. The general selfefficacy of nursing students has a certain predictive value on their academic achievement,which is worthy of further study by nursing educators.Aim: This study aimed to describe the level of nursing students' self-efficacy and autonomouslearning ability, explore the relationship between self-efficacy and autonomous learningability, and explore the influencing factors of autonomous learning ability.Methods: Totally 247 undergraduate nursing students were investigated with the GeneralInformation Questionnaire,General Self- Efficacy Scale(GSES) and Self-directed LearningAbility Questionnaire．Results: First, the general self-efficacy score of nursing students was (27.081 ± 3.108), lowerthan the international norm, at the middle level, with an increasing trend from the first year tothe fourth year. Second, the overall average score of self-study ability of nursingundergraduate students was (77.63 ± 13.14) with a downward trend among four grades. Afterstandardization, the scores of each dimension were from high to low in order of learningcooperation, self-management, learning motivation and information quality. Third, the totalscore of nursing students' autonomous learning ability and its four dimensions werenegatively correlated with general self-efficacy; The self-study ability and all dimensions ofnursing students were negatively correlated with general self-efficacy. Fourth, the reasons forstudying nursing, serving as a student cadre and learning motivation are the influencingfactors or predictive factors of general self-efficacy.Conclusion: Firstly, the general self-efficacy of undergraduate nursing students at LishuiCollege is at an intermediate level, and the independent learning ability is high.Then as thegrade level increases, the general self-efficacy score gradually increases and the independentlearning ability score gradually decreases. The reasons for this are worthy of further study.Lastly, in order to improve students' academic performance and overall quality, undergraduatenursing teaching should pay more attention to the positive impact of self-directed learningreadiness and general self-efficacy on students' education. One of the ways in which selfdirected learning readiness can be addressed is in terms of motivation and quality ofinformation.Key words: Autonomous learning ability, Baccalaureate, Education, Nursing student, Selfefficacy